Adjustable brick jointer



June 15 y 1926. 1,588,793

v B. T. GRIFFITH ADJUSTABLE BRICK JOINTER Filed Jan. 30, 1922 E1 Elli amirLT Griff-fifth Suva doc Patented June 15, 1926.

Uhli'i'ED STATES BENJAMIN '1. GRIFFITH, OF OELWEIN, IOWA.

ADJUSTABLE BRICK JOINTER.

Application filed. January 30, 1922.

This invention relates to tools and more particularly to tools for use in connection with brick laying and the primary ob ect of the invention is to provide a novel tool for scraping mortar from between. courses of brick during the laying thereof so that the bricks wil present the appearance of setting out from the face of the Wall being built.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved brick jointing tool, which can be readily adjusted to conform to the varying distances between the courses of bricks, whereby the tool can be effectively used for making a neat joint, without causing any inconvenience to the user thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel curved cutting blades for scraping the mortar between the courses of brick, and novel means for limiting the movement of the blades between the courses of brick, so that an even amount of mortar can be taken from each course of bricks, said means also forming scraping devices for removing all mortar which might ad here to the outer face of the brick.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved brick jointer tool of the above character, which is durable and ciiicient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost. lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically descr bed, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. in which drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved toot, showing the same in use, and illustrating the position of the blades, when the courses of brick are set relatively close together.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position of the blades when the courses of brick are spaced a relatively great distance apart.

Figure 3 is an edge elevation or top plan View of the improved tool, showing the same in use, the wall being shown in section, and

Figure -.lis an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the cutting blades of the improved brick jointer.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters desig- Serial No. 532,795.

nate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the improved brick jointer which includes the companion sections B and C, which are constructed identically the same.

The sections B and C include connecting shanks 10 and 11, which are preferably constructed from metal of a high grade, such as steel. The rear ends of the connecting shanks 10 and 11 arebent in opposite directions as at 12 and 13 and then rearwardly as at 14 in parallel relation. The parallel portions 14 have their opposite side edges rolled toward each other in abutting relation to provide handles or hand grips 15 and 16. The means forming the handles or hand grips 15 and 16 has been shown merely by way of example in the drawings, and it is obvious that wooden hand grips can be substituted therefor if so desired, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The forward ends of the connecting shanks 10 and 11 are gradually curved laterally toward their forward ends as at 17, and the terminals of the curved portions are curved outwardly to provide mortar scraping blades 18 and 19. These cutting blades 18 and 19 are curved rearwardly toward the handle and have their active edges bevelled as at 20 to provide cutting edges, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and a of the drawings. The edges of the cutting blades 18 and 19 extend flush with the outer edges of the shanks 10 and 11, while their inner edges are cut out or oilset from the inner edges of the shanks 10 and 1]. as at 21. This defines scraping edges 22, which are adapted to engage the outer face of the brick for scraping of any mortar which might adhere to the same and for limiting the inserting movement of the The blades 18 and 19 into the mortar. shanks 10 and 11 are pivotally connected together, intermediate their ends, in any suitable manner, such as by a pivot pin 23. An expansion spring 25 is provided for normally maintaining the handles 15 and 16 in a spread position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, with the blades 18 and 19 in abutting relation for making a narrow joint. This spring 25 has been shown to be a coil spring, but any other suitable type of resilient means may be substituted therefor. This spring is so tensioned as to hold the handles and the jaws in the manner just set forth. The terminals of these springs are llu blades 18 and 19 are inscted in the mortar between the courses of brick, until the edges" 22 come into engagement with the outer faces of the brick. The handles 15 and 16 are then grasped and pressure can then be exerted thereon, in order to overcome the tension of the spring 2 5 and to force the opposite edges of the blades 18 and 19 into engagement with the opposite edges or faces of the brick. T he tool is then dragged. along between the courses of the brick and the blades will elfectively scrape a certain portion of the mortar from between the same. It is obvious that the blades 18 and 19 ,will conform to the varying distances between the courses of brick by varying the pressure of the hand upon the handles 15 and 16. In Figure '1 is shown the tool being used between courses of brick set relatively close together. and in Figure 2 is shown the use of the tool between courses of brick set relatively far apart.

From the foregoing description, it can be that the improved brick joining tool has been provided which is of exceptionally durable and simple construction, which will effectively remove a certain portion of the mortar from between courses of the brick and readily conform to the varying distances between the brick.

Changes in details may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope ofthis invention; but,

I claim:

1. A jointing tool comprising a shank, a handle disposed on one end of the shank, a rearwardly extending curved blade formed on the opposite end of the shank, and means formed on the shank for engaging the outer face of the brick to scrape any mortar off of the same, which might be adhering thereto.

2. In a brick jointing tool, a shank, a curved mortar scraping blade formed on one end of the shank having a cut-ting edge formed on its leading face, and a scraping blade formed on the shank for engaging the outer face of the brick, said scraping blade forming means for limiting the inserting movement of the mortar scraping blade in *etween the courses of the brick.

it brick jointing tool comprising a plnrality of blades, and means supporting said blades in overlapping relation and movable with respect to one another, to jointly and simultaneously scrape mortar from between bricks, and increase and decrease the effective scraping capacity of the tool by relative movement of the blades with respect to one another while in overlapping relation.

1-. A brick jointing tool comprising a pair of companion shanks, means pivotally secnr ing the shanks together intermediate their ends, radially curved mortar scraping blades formed on the forward ends of the shanks.

handles carried by the rear ends of the shanks, and resilient means for maintaining the mortar scraping blades in abutting relation.

5. A brick jointing tool comprising a pair of companion shanks, means pivotally securing the shanks together ii'itermediate their ends, reduced rearwardly extending mortar scraping blades carried by the forward ends of the shanks defining scraping shoulders on said shanks, handles carried by the lower ends of the shanks, and resilient means en gaging the inner faces of the handles to maintain the mortar scraping blades in overlapped relation.

6. A brick jointing tool comprisin a pair of abutting shanks, means pivotally securing the shanks together, handles formed on the rear ends of the shanks, the forward ends of the shanks being gradually curved laterally forwardly of the pivot means, the forward end of the shanks being cut-out to provide brick scraping shoulders, the reduced 031" minals of the shank being curved laterally and rearwardly to provide mortar scraping blades.

7. A brick jointing tool comprising a pair of abuttii'ig shanks, means pivotally securing the shanks together, handles formed on the rear ends of the shanks, the forward ends of the shanks being of reduced width and gradually curved laterally and formirdl to ward the pivot means to provide scraping blades and brick engaging shoulders.

BENJAMIN T. GRIFFITH. 

